Electric heat shaver



Dec. 23, 1952 J. R. HUNT ELECTRIC HEAT SHAVER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1948 I N VEN TOR. (Lamas/QM? Dec. 23, l 952 Filed Dec. 14, 1948 J. R. HUNT ,319

ELECTRIC HEAT SHAVER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 =95 gj INVENTOR. 3W chi/265125 1 21 W4 m Mj2m%.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,622,319 ELECTRIC HEAT SHAVER James Russell Hunt, Hillsboro, Ohio. Application December 14, 1948, Serial No. 65,154

The present invention relates to an electrothermic shaver, and more particularly to an electro-thermicshaver of the safety razor type.

Thelprimary object of the invention is to provide-an electro-thermic shaver of the safety razor type which is adaptedto directly heat the razor I blade by heat conduction through a metallic element having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity such as copper. a

Another object is to provide an electro-thermal shaver in which the heat conducting element is in contactual engagement with the razor blade to increase the rated heat flow from the electric heating element'to the safety razor blade.

' Another object is to provide an electro-thermic shaveroi the safety razor type inwhich the electric-heating element is mounted in the end of the handle of the razor and arranged to conduct heat directly to the blade of the safety razor.

Another object is to provide an eleetro-thermic shaver of the safety razor type in which a one piece head construction enables the blade to be quickly and easily changed, facilitates cleaning and'generally enhances the shaving qualities of the razor.

Another object is to provide an electro-thermic shaver of the safety razor type with a heat control unit to permit the heat to be regulated by the user to produce various heat temperatures.

Another object is to provide an electro-thermic shaver of the safety razor type in which the handle is formed of a heat insulation composition capable of maintaining the handle in a cool condition during shaving.

Another object is to provide an electro-thermic shaver of the safety razor type having a new and improved heating element and a new and improved mounting therefor.

Another object is to provide a safety razor having a blade clamping member which is-actuated by the handle and provides a safety guard which is easy to clean andwill not become clogged.

- Another object is to provide a safety razor having a safety guard bar having a non-slid tread which will permit the razor'to be moved over the skin surface with ease and facility and thus insure-a clean'andclose shave.

- Other' objects and advantages of the invention will-become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure -1 is a side elevational view of theelectro-thermic safety razor showing the enlarged handle and illustrating the improved head con- Figure 2 is avertical cross sectional view of the electro-thermic shaver showing the manner in 2 Claims. (o1. 30-34) which the heating element is mounted and concealed within a portion of the handle and also showing the heat conducting member indirect contactual engagement with the ,razor blade.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view similar. to Figure 2, but taken at right angles thereto further showing the heating element in contactual engagement with the razor blade as well as various other features and details of construction.

-Figure 4 is a fragmentary-vertical cross sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing the blade clamping means separated and illustrating the manner in which the'blade is removed from the clamped position illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is. a top elevational view of the guard member illustrating the projections atthe ends thereof for'movably supporting the guard; and also showing the comb teeth along-each edge thereof.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the cap structure illustrating the guide slots at the ends thereof for receiving the projections at each end of the guard member.

Figure '7 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line'1-l of Figure 6, and lookingin the direction of the arrows to illustrate the underside of the cap and the longitudinal recess therein for receiving a correspondingly shaped rib on the guard member.

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the location of the guide slots and supporting sleeve. e

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the heat conducting shell showing the solid contact. member on the end thereof for direct heat conducting engagement with the razor blade.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the heating element showing an annular projection on the upper end thereof to form an air space within the heat conducting element.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the razor blade handle showing the same in end elevation to illustrate the manner inwhich the closure plug is apertured to permit circulation of air within the handle.

Figure '12 is a sideelevational view of the heating element support. I

Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a modified handle construction in which the two part plug connection is eliminated and the electrical conductor is passed through an aperture in the closure plug of the handle.

t Figure l4 is an end elevational viewof the godifiied handle construction shown in Figure Figure is a top elevational view of a guard bar which can optionally be used and is adapted to replace the guard loar shown in Figure 5 for accommodating certain types of razor blades. The inwardly projecting teeth form a guard in which clogging is eliminated and the guard bars perform the same function as the comb teeth on the guard shown in Figure 5.

In the drawings, and more in detail, there is shown for convenience of illustration one embodiment of the invention which includes a handle 5 which is molded and formed of plastic material having high insulating characteristics. Preferably, the handle is formed of a synthetic resin composition such as Bakelite. The handle 5 is formed hollow to provide an internal chamber 6 open at one end and closed at the opposite end by means of a threaded shell-like member 1, which is molded in place and anchored in one end of the handle 5 by means of an annular flange 8, Figure 2. The shell-like member 1 is externally threaded and projects beyond one end of the handle a slight distance for supporting the razor head. A projection II) of reduced diameter is formed integral with the closed end of the shell-like member I and said shell is formed of copper or other metal having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity.

Mounted within the central chamber 5 of the handle is a conical supportin element ii having a tubular extension I2 which projects into the open end of the shell-like member 1, and said supporting member is formed of insulating material and if desired, may be molded from the same composition as the handle. The lower end of the conical supporting element I I terminates a short distance from the end of the handle 5 and is engaged by a plug member I3 held in place by set screws I4. The plug member is provided with a pair of spaced contact receiving slots I5 and a series of vent openings I6, Figure 11. Affixed to the contact plug I3 adjacent the openings I5 are contact fingers I1 which are held in place by screws I8 which also form terminals for the electrical conductors of the heating element which will be presently described.

The electric heating element includes a metal shell I9 of a length slightly greater than the tubular portion I2, and of a slightl smaller diameter to facilitate reception in said tubular portion I2. The shell I9 is formed of metal and is provided at its upper end with an enlarged head adapted to overlie the upper edge of the tubular projection I2 and engage the end wall of the shell-like member 1 and thus provide an air space. Mounted within the sleeve I9 is a porcelain insulator 2I having a spiral groove for receiving an electric resistance wire 22, the leads 23 of which are connected to the contact fingers I1 by means of the terminal screws I8.

The head structure comprises a knurled collar 25 which is threaded internally for mating relationship with the threads on the shell-like memher 1. Secured to the collar 25 is a frame bar 26 which extends normal to the handle and to the ends of which the safety razor cap 21 is at tached. The cap 21 is provided at its ends with a pair of spaced angular projections 28 which are Welded to the frame bar 25 as at 29. The spaced members 28 form a guide slot 39 at each end of the safety razor head as shown clearly in Figure 6. The cap 21 is of conventional design, and is provided on its underside with a longitudinal recess 3I for receiving a positioning rib on the guard member. The guard member 33 is provided with a central opening 34 and has formed along each side edge a series of comb teeth 35. Further, the guard is slotted longitudinally as at 36 on each side of its center line to facilitate cleaning. Extending along the center line is a raised rib 31 which is adapted to cooperate with the recess BI and form blade positioning means. The razor blade 40 is of conventional design so as to be clamped between the cap and guard 21 and 33 when the handle 5 is rotated relative to the razor head including the frame 26. The projection Ill, it will be noted, passes through the central opening 34 in the guard 33 so that the free end thereof will contactually engage the razor blade 43 and permit the direct transfer of heat from the heating element to said blade by conduction. By reason of the fact that the projection HI is reduced in diameter a shoulder 4| is formed on the upper end of the shell-like member (Fig. 2), and surrounding said projection is a washer 42 which may be formed of a yieldin heat resistant material to seat on said shoulder and form an abutting surface engageable with the guard 33. Thus, when the handle 5 is rotated relative to the cap head 21, the guard 33 will be moved to and fro to clampingly engage the razor blade.

Formed at each end of the guard 33 is a pro- J'ection 44 which is received in the guide slots 30 of the cap structure to assist in centering the guard and prevent the same from twisting.

The electric heating element 22 is adapted to be placed in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy such as the domestic current supply lines 45, and said lines are connected to a regulator 46 by means of terminal screws 41. The regulator 46 is formed of complementary sections having mutually related recesses and out-away portions, in one of which is mounted a resistance element 48 tapped as at 49, 50 and 5I to provide high, medium and low heating element temperatures. A manually operated lever 52 is provided with a handle 53 which projects beyond the control element 45 and said lever is provided with an extension 54 successively enageable with the tap contacts 45 to 5I inclusive, whereby the resistance element 48 may be out out of, or partially inserted in the circuit. One of the terminal screws 41 is connected to the control lever 52 by means of a cable 55 which is attached to the pivot point of said arm as at 55. The other terminal screw 41 is connected to one lead of a double cable 51 which is electrically connected to one of the contacts 58 of a contact plug 59. The other cable of the lead 51 is attaolhed to a similar contact prong 6| carried by the plug 59, and said cable or conductor 60 is electrically connected to the tap 49 of the control element 46 such that when the arm 52 is engageable with the contact 45 the circuit will flow through the conductors 4-5 to the cable 51 and thence through the plug 59 to the electric heating element 22. When the arm 52 is in engagement with the tap 53 the left-hand side of the resistor 48 is placed in the circuit and results in a reduction of current flowing to the heating element 22. When the arm 52 is in engagement with the contact tap 5i the entire resistance 48 is placed in the circuit with a still further reduction in the current supply to the electric heating element.

In the slightly modified form of the invention shown in Figures 13 and 14, the handle 5d and supporting element IIa are substantially identical to form the invention shown and described in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, and the open end of the handle 5a is closed by a plug [3a held in place by screws Ma. The plug 130. is provided with a central bushing l5a. having an opening for the passage of the electric cable 51a. which has its upper end attached to the heating element as explained in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive. The closure plug l3a. is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced openings [6a to permit the passage of air and thus maintain the handle 5a at a reduced temperature.

In Figure 15 there is shown a modified guard bar 33a which may be optionally used in place of the guard bar 33. The guard bar 3311 is provided with a central opening 34a, and the bars of said guard are provided with spaced apart teeth 35a extending into longitudinal slots 36a. The central portion of the guard is provided with a rib 31a adapted to cooperate with the recess 3| on the underside of the cap 21 when the guard is used in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 12. The end portions of the guard are provided with projections at which are adapted to be received in the guide slots 30 of the head structure when the guard bar is optionally used.

The handle 5 may be knurled if desired to present a non-slip gripping surface, and enable the razor to be used with ease and facility. It is also to be noted that one end of the handle 5 is recessed to provide an annular cavity 65 for receiving the lower end of the collar 25 when the razor blade 40 is clamped tightly in position.

In operation, the blade 40 is inserted between the cap 21 and guard 33 by separating the cap and guard as shown in Figure 4 through relative rotation of the safety razor head and handle. After the blade is inserted the handle 5 is rotated relative to the head which causes the projection to pass through the opening 34 in the guard bar, and also causes the washer 42 to force the guard bar in a direction to clamp the safety razor in place with the projection ID in direct contactual engagement therewith for heat conducting purposes. The regulator 46 is manually operated to produce the desired heat temperature, and the heat created by the electric heating element will be transferred to the shell member I, and thence by direct heat conduction to the razor blade 40 through the projection l0.

With certain types of blades, it will be found desirable to substitute the guard 33a for the uard 33.

After the blade has been secured in place and heated in the above manner, the shaving operation is carried on in the usual manner. As shown in Figure 5, the rib 31 is an integral part of the uard member 33. Thus, the knurled collar can be turned on the threaded member I, thereby allowing the top 21 to rise an amount sufficient to allow the blade to clear the raised rib 31 and be pulled out or inserted, as the case may be, sideways. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments thereof, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an electro-thermal safety razor, a hollow molded handle formed of insulating composition. an externally threaded shell having an end anchored in one end of said handle and projecting therefrom, a collar threaded on said shell, a frame bar secured to said collar and positioned normal to said handle, a guide member at each end of said frame bar having guide slots, a safety razor cap having its ends secured to said guide members, a guard bar mounted in said guide slots for movement between said frame bar and cap adapted to clamp a safety razor blade therebetween, an electric heating element extending longitudinally in said shell, a closure plug for the opposite end of the handle having vent openings and a pair of spaced apart contact receiving slots, electric contacts mounted adjacent said slots electrically connected to said heating element to receive the contacts of an electric plug connected to a suitable source of electrical enery, a projection on said shell extending through an opening in said guard bar for direct contactual heat conduction engagement with said blade and a washer of yielding material surrounding said projection for engaging said guard bar and forcing the same into clamping engagement with said cap and blade when said handle is turned to move said collar downwardly on said shell.

2. In an electro-thermal safety razor, a hollow molded handle formed of insulating composition, an externally threaded shell having an. end anchored in one end of said handle and projecting therefrom, a collar threaded on said shell, a frame bar secured to said collar and positioned normal to said handle, a guide member at each end of said frame bar having guide slots, a safety razor cap having its ends secured to said guide members, a guard bar mounted in said guide slots for movement between said frame bar and cap adapted to clamp a safety razor blade therebetween, an electric heating element extending longitudinally in said shell, a closure plug for the opposite end of the handle having vent openings and a pair of spaced apart contact receiving slots, electric contacts mounted adjacent said slots electrically connected to said heating element to receive the contacts of an electric plug connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, a projection on said shell extending through an opening in said guard bar for direct contactual heat conduction engagement with said blade and a washer of yielding material surrounding said projection for engaging said guard bar and forcing the same into clamping engagement with said cap and blade when said handle is turned to move said collar downwardly on said shell, said shell being formed of a metal having a high coefficient of thermal conduction.

JAMES RUSSELL HUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 625,354 Putnam May 23, 1899 1,653,081 Adams Dec. 20, 1927 1,821,574 Peters Sept. 1, 1931 2,027,213 Vonschott Jan. 7, 1936 2,037,849 Brown Apr. 21, 1936 2,260,333 Philips Oct. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 38,234 France Feb. 3, 1931 

